Raymond S Niaura
Raymond S Niaura
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Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Professional overview
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Dr. Raymond Niaura is a psychologist and an expert on tobacco dependence and treatment, as well as substance use and addiction to alcohol. Dr. Niaura researches the biobehavioral substrates of tobacco dependence, including factors that influence adolescent and early adult tobacco use trajectories. He also evaluates behavioral and pharmacological treatments for tobacco cessation, with a particular interest in cessation in disadvantaged population to address public health disparities in tobacco-related burdens of illness and disability.
For eight year, Dr. Niaura was the Director of Science and Training at the Schroeder Institute (SI) for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at the Truth Initiative, where he also supervised the pre- and post-doctoral training programs. Dr. Niaura has previously taught and conducted research at Brown University, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Georgetown Medical Center, and the School of Public Health at University of Maryland. He was also a former President of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco and is a Deputy Editor of the Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
With grants from the National Institutes of Health, numerous foundations, and private industry, Dr. Niaura has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles, commentaries, and book chapters, including the book The Tobacco Dependence Treatment Handbook: A Guide to Best Practices.
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Education
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BA, Psychology (First Class Honors), McGill University, Montreal, CanadaMS, Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJPhD, Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
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Honors and awards
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Research Laureate, American Academy of Health Behavior (2009)University Scholar Award, McGill University (1979)
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Areas of research and study
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Alcohol, Tobacco and Driving PoliciesEvaluationsHealth DisparitiesSubstance AbuseTobacco Control
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Publications
Publications
Development and reliability of the lifetime interview on smoking trajectories
AbstractColby, S. M., Clark, M. A., Rogers, M. L., Ramsey, S., Graham, A. L., Boergers, J., Kahler, C. W., Papandonatos, G. D., Buka, S. L., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
14Issue
3Page(s)
290-298AbstractIntroduction: Assessments of lifetime smoking history are useful in many types of research including surveillance, epidemiology, prevention, intervention, and studies of genetic phenotypes and heritability. Because prospective assessment is impractical for most research, our objective was to develop a reliable retrospective measure of lifetime smoking history. This paper presents descriptive and test-retest reliability data on smoking history variables assessed using the Lifetime Interview on Smoking Trajectories (LIST). Methods: Data were collected on a birth cohort sample of 1,625 men and women (ages 34-44) from the Collaborative Perinatal Project. A subsample of 344 was invited to participate in a retest interview 4-8 weeks later and 220 participated. Indices of test-retest reliability were evaluated for smoking history variables, including: (a) early smoking experiences; (b) age at various smoking milestones, such as first puff, and progression to weekly and daily smoking; (c) smoking rate and time to first cigarette within initial, current, most recent, and heaviest phases; and (d) prolonged nonsmoking phases. Results: Responses to whether each of 5 major smoking milestones occurred were all highly reliable (k = .78 - .92), and of the 20 phase-specific variables assessed, more than half were reported at the highest level of reliability. None of the variables demonstrated low reliability. Conclusions: Although retrospective reports have unavoidable limitations, our findings indicate that the LIST is a reliable instrument for assessing detailed retrospective smoking history data and can be used to add to the knowledge base of how patterns of use relate to a variety of outcomes of interest.Dopamine D4 receptor gene variation moderates the efficacy of bupropion for smoking cessation
AbstractNiaura, R. S., Leventhal, A. M., David, S. P., Brightman, M., Strong, D., McGeary, J. E., Brown, R. A., Lloyd-Richardson, E. E., Munafò, M., Uhl, G. R., & Niaura, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
Pharmacogenomics JournalVolume
12Issue
1Page(s)
86-92AbstractSmokers (10 cigarettes per day, N331) of European ancestry taking part in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial of 12 weeks of treatment with bupropion along with counseling for smoking cessation were genotyped for a variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism in exon III of the dopamine D4 receptor gene. Generalized estimating equations predicting point-prevalence abstinence at end of treatment and 2, 6 and 12 months after the end of treatment indicated that bupropion (vs placebo) predicted increased odds of abstinence. The main effect of Genotype was not significant. A Genotype × Treatment interaction (P0.005) showed that bupropion predicted increased odds of abstinence in long-allele carriers (odds ratios (OR)1.31, P0.0001), whereas bupropion was not associated with abstinence among short-allele homozygotes (OR1.06, P0.23). The Genotype × Treatment interaction remained when controlling for demographic and clinical covariates (P0.01) and in analyses predicting continuous abstinence (P's0.054). Bupropion may be more efficacious for smokers who carry the long allele, which is relevant to personalized pharmacogenetic treatment approaches.E-cigarette awareness, use, and harm perceptions in US adults
AbstractPearson, J. L., Richardson, A., Niaura, R. S., Vallone, D. M., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
102Issue
9Page(s)
1758-1766AbstractObjectives. We estimated e-cigarette (electronic nicotine delivery system) awareness, use, and harm perceptions among US adults. Methods. We drew data from 2 surveys conducted in 2010: a national online study (n = 2649) and the Legacy Longitudinal Smoker Cohort (n = 3658). We used multivariable models to examine e-cigarette awareness, use, and harm perceptions. Results. In the online survey, 40.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 37.3, 43.1) had heard of e-cigarettes, with awareness highest among current smokers. Utilization was higher among current smokers (11.4%; 95% CI = 9.3, 14.0) than in the total population (3.4%; 95% CI = 2.6, 4.2), with 2.0% (95% CI = 1.0, 3.8) of former smokers and 0.8% (95% CI = 0.35, 1.7) of never-smokers ever using e-cigarettes. In both surveys, non-Hispanic Whites, current smokers, young adults, and those with at least a high-school diploma were most likely to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes. Conclusions. Awareness of e-cigarettes is high, and use among current and former smokers is evident. We recommend product regulation and careful surveillance to monitor public health impact and emerging utilization patterns, and to ascertain why, how, and under what conditions e-cigarettes are being used.Erratum : Online social networks and smoking cessation: A scientific research agenda (Journal of Medical Internet Research (2004) 6:3 (e34))
AbstractCobb, N. K., Graham, A. L., Byron, M. J., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
Journal of medical Internet researchVolume
14Issue
1Page(s)
e12Abstract~Interventions to address chronic disease and HIV : Strategies to promote smoking cessation among HIV-infected individuals
AbstractNiaura, R. S., Chander, G., Hutton, H., & Stanton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
Current HIV/AIDS ReportsVolume
9Issue
4Page(s)
375-384AbstractTobacco use, especially cigarette smoking, is higher than average in persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence states that, during every medical encounter, all smokers should be offered smoking cessation counseling, along with approved medications. The Guideline also recognizes PLWHA as a priority population, given the scarcity of research on effective cessation treatments in this group. The scant evidence suggests that conventional treatments, though worthwhile, are not as successful as might be hoped for. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, butmay have to do with the complex array of medical and psychosocial factors that complicate their lives. Clinicians should consider re-treatment strategies for those patients who encounter difficulty when quitting smoking with conventional approaches, switching or augmenting treatments as needed to minimize adverseexperiences, and to maximize tolerability, adherence, and cessation outcomes.A national mass media smoking cessation campaign : Effects by race/ethnicity and education
AbstractVallone, D. M., Niederdeppe, J., Richardson, A. K., Patwardhan, P., Niaura, R. S., & Cullen, J. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
American Journal of Health PromotionVolume
25Issue
SUPPL.5Page(s)
S38-S50AbstractPurpose. To assess the effectiveness of a large-scale, national smoking cessation media campaign, the EX campaign, across racial/ethnic and educational subgroups. Design. A longitudinal random-digit-dial panel study conducted prior to and 6 months following the national launch of the campaign. Setting. The sample was drawn from eight designated media markets in the United States. Subjects. The baseline survey was conducted on 5616 current smokers, aged 18 to 49 years, and 4067 (73% follow-up response rate) were resurveyed at the 6-month follow-up. Measures. The primary independent variable is confirmed awareness of the campaign advertising, and the outcome variables are follow-up cessation-related cognitions index score and quit attempts. Analysis. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted within racial/ ethnic and educational strata to assess the strength of association between confirmed awareness of campaign advertising and cessation-related outcomes. Results. Confirmed awareness of campaign advertising increased favorable cessation-related cognitions among Hispanics and quit attempts among non-Hispanic blacks, and increased favorable cessation-related cognitions and quit attempts among smokers with less than a high school education. Conclusions. These results suggest that the EX campaign may be effective in promoting cessationrelated cognitions and behaviors among minority and disadvantaged smokers who experience a disproportionate burden of tobacco-related illness and mortality.A randomized trial of internet and telephone treatment for smoking cessation
AbstractGraham, A. L., Cobb, N. K., Papandonatos, G. D., Moreno, J. L., Kang, H., Tinkelman, D. G., Bock, B. C., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
Archives of Internal MedicineVolume
171Issue
1Page(s)
46-53AbstractBackground: This study aimed to determine the relative effect of Internet and Internet plus telephone treatment for smoking cessation on smoking abstinence among US adults. A priori hypotheses were that Internet enhanced with tailored content and social support would outperform basic Internet (BI) and that enhanced Internet (EI) plus proactive telephone counseling would outperform the other conditions. Methods: The Quit Using Internet and Telephone Treatment (iQUITT) study used a 3-group randomized controlled design comparing BI, EI, and EI and telephone combined (EI+P). The trial was conducted from March 8, 2005, through November 30, 2008. Current adult smokers in the United States who smoked 5 or more cigarettes per day were recruited via search engines. Characteristics of the 2005 participants include mean (SD) age of 35.9 (10.8) years, 51.1% women, and 86.5% white. The follow-up assessment rate at 18 months was 68.2%. The main outcome measure was 30-day point prevalence abstinence measured at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after randomization using intent-to-treat analysis. Results: At 18 months, the 30-day multiple point prevalence abstinence rate across all follow-up intervals was 3.5% (BI), 4.5% (EI), and 7.7% (EI+P), with EI+P significantly outperforming BI and EI. At 18 months, 30-day single point prevalence abstinence rates were 19.0% (BI), 17.4% (EI), and 19.6% (EI+P) and did not differ among the groups. Conclusions: Combined Internet and telephone treatment outperforms static and dynamic Internet interventions. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00282009.Accuracy of a brief screening scale for lifetime major depression in cigarette smokers
AbstractHitsman, B., Buka, S. L., Veluz-Wilkins, A. K., Mohr, D. C., Niaura, R. S., & Gilman, S. E. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
Psychology of Addictive BehaviorsVolume
25Issue
3Page(s)
559-564AbstractHistory of major depression is increasingly being measured in smoking cessation trials using brief screening scales, typically only 1-2 items, despite that their validity has not been fully established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of a 4-item screening scale of lifetime major depressive episode (MDE). Current (n = 475), former (n = 401), and never (n = 646) smokers were asked about a history of depressed mood and anhedonia lasting several days or longer. Endorsers of either depressed mood or anhedonia were then asked about whether the symptom(s) lasted most of the day nearly every day for two weeks or longer. Symptom endorsers, regardless of symptom duration, were administered the depression module of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Eight hundred and thirty-five (54.9%) participants had no history of either screening symptom, 296 (20.9%) had a history of depressed mood and/or anhedonia < 2 weeks, and 369 (24.2%) had a history of depressed mood and/or anhedonia ≥ 2 weeks. PPV of depressed mood and/or anhedonia ≥ 2 weeks was high (84.8%) for detecting lifetime MDE, as compared to only 23.9% for symptom(s)Application of functional neuroimaging to examination of nicotine dependence
AbstractDavid, S. P., Sweet, L. H., Cohen, R. A., MacKillop, J., Mulligan, R. C., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Page(s)
117-145AbstractFunctional neuroimaging approaches have advanced the field of nicotine and tobacco research by making it possible to study neurobiological mechanisms associated with behaviors predictive of nicotine dependence severity and smoking cessation. This chapter provides a review of the state of the science intended to provide an introductory guide to investigators interested in the design and conduct of future studies.Characteristics and predictors of readiness to quit among emergency medical patients presenting with respiratory symptoms
AbstractBock, B. C., Jennings, E., Becker, B. M., Partridge, R., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
International Journal of Emergency MedicineVolume
4Issue
1AbstractPurpose: To examine behavioral factors that lead patients to consider quitting smoking and features associated with readiness to quit among adults who are seeking treatment in the emergency department (ED) for respiratory symptoms. Methods: A toal of 665 adult smokers seeking treatment in an ED for respiratory symptoms and respiratory illness answered survey questions during the ED visit. Results: Patients self-reported "readiness to quit" was broadly distributed among this patient population. Patients with COPD, pneumonia or asthma perceived higher risks from smoking than other patients with respiratory complaints. Over half of all participants had scores indicative of depression. Regression analysis showed that prior efforts to quit, confidence, perceived importance of quitting and decisional balance were each significantly predictive of readiness to quit, accounting for 40% of the variance. Conclusions: While many of these patients appear unaware of the connection between their symptoms and their smoking, patients with diagnosed chronic respiratory illness perceived higher risks from their smoking. In patients who do not perceive these risks, physician intervention may increase perceived risk from smoking and perceived importance of quitting. Interventions designed for the ED setting targeting this patient population should consider screening for depressive symptoms and, when appropriate, making referrals for further evaluation and/or treatment. Medications that can help alleviate depression and withdrawal symptoms while quitting smoking, such as bupropion, may be particularly useful for this subset of patients, as depression is a substantial barrier to quitting.Food and drug administration regulation of tobacco : Integrating science, law, policy, and advocacy
AbstractVillanti, A. C., Vargyas, E. J., Niaura, R. S., Beck, S. E., Pearson, J. L., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
101Issue
7Page(s)
1160-1162Abstract~Modeling the future effects of a menthol ban on smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths in the United States
AbstractLevy, D. T., Pearson, J. L., Villanti, A. C., Blackman, K., Vallone, D. M., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
101Issue
7Page(s)
1236-1240AbstractWe used a validated smoking simulation model and data from the 2003 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey to project the impact that a US menthol ban would have on smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths. In a scenario in which 30% of menthol smokers quit and 30% of those who would have initiated as menthol smokers do not initiate, by 2050 the relative reduction in smoking prevalence would be 9.7% overall and 24.8% for Blacks; deaths averted would be 633252 overall and 237317 for Blacks.Online social networks and smoking cessation : A scientific research agenda
AbstractCobb, N. K., Graham, A. L., Byron, M. J., Niaura, R. S., Abrams, D. B., & Workshop Participants, P. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
Journal of medical Internet researchVolume
13Issue
4AbstractBackground: Smoking remains one of the most pressing public health problems in the United States and internationally. The concurrent evolution of the Internet, social network science, and online communities offers a potential target for high-yield interventions capable of shifting population-level smoking rates and substantially improving public health. Objective: Our objective was to convene leading practitioners in relevant disciplines to develop the core of a strategic research agenda on online social networks and their use for smoking cessation, with implications for other health behaviors. Methods: We conducted a 100-person, 2-day, multidisciplinary workshop in Washington, DC, USA. Participants worked in small groups to formulate research questions that could move the field forward. Discussions and resulting questions were synthesized by the workshop planning committee. Results: We considered 34 questions in four categories (advancing theory, understanding fundamental mechanisms, intervention approaches, and evaluation) to be the most pressing. Conclusions: Online social networks might facilitate smoking cessation in several ways. Identifying new theories, translating these into functional interventions, and evaluating the results will require a concerted transdisciplinary effort. This report presents a series of research questions to assist researchers, developers, and funders in the process of efficiently moving this field forward.Positive reactions to tobacco predict relapse after cessation
AbstractStrong, D. R., Leventhal, A. M., Evatt, D. P., Haber, S., Greenberg, B. D., Abrams, D. S., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
Journal of abnormal psychologyVolume
120Issue
4Page(s)
999-1005AbstractAmong chronic smokers, individual differences in subjective reactions to smoking may characterize important facets of nicotine dependence that relate to abstinence-induced craving, withdrawal symptom profiles, and risk for relapse. Although the negative reinforcing properties of smoking have achieved prominent positions in models of relapse (Baker, Brandon, & Chassin, 2004), vulnerability to relapse risk may also arise from seeking positive reinforcement from smoking (Shiffman & Kirchner, 2009). In this study, 183 cessation-motivated smokers provided subjective craving, positive and negative reactions to standardized cigarettes following overnight abstinence. Level of craving, negative mood, and positive mood after overnight abstinence were significantly predictive of withdrawal on quit-day. Increased positive reactions to smoking were uniquely predictive of relapse after quitting (Hazard Ratio = 1.22, p < .001). Individual differences in positive reactions to smoking may be important markers of neurobiological systems that promote dependence and interfere with cessation efforts.Quit attempts and quit rates among menthol and nonmenthol smokers in the United States
AbstractLevy, D. T., Blackman, K., Tauras, J., Chaloupka, F. J., Villanti, A. C., Niaura, R. S., Vallone, D. M., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
101Issue
7Page(s)
1241-1247AbstractObjectives: We compared quit attempts and quit rates among menthol and nonmenthol cigarette smokers in the United States. Methods: We used data from the 2003 and 2006-2007 waves of the large, nationally representative Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey with control for state-level tobacco control spending, prices, and smokefree air laws. We estimated mean prevalence, quit rates, and multivariate logistic regression equations by using self-respondent weights for menthol and nonmenthol smokers. Results: In 2003 and 2007, 70% of smokers smoked nonmenthol cigarettes, 26% smoked menthol cigarettes, and 4% had no preference. Quit attempts were 4.3% higher in 2003 and 8.8% higher in 2007 among menthol than nonmenthol smokers. The likelihood of quitting was 3.5% lower for quitting in the past year and 6% lower for quitting in the past 5 years in menthol compared with nonmenthol smokers. Quit success in the past 5 years was further eroded among menthol-smoking Blacks and young adults. Conclusions: Menthol smokers are more likely to make quit attempts, but are less successful at staying quit. The creation of menthol preference through marketing may reduce quit success.Tobacco use
AbstractNiaura, R. S., & Villanti, A. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Volume
3Page(s)
331-337AbstractTobacco use is the deadliest addiction in the United States and remains a problem for adolescents. Despite aggressive tobacco control efforts, adolescents continue to initiate smoking and lack the supportive resources to quit. This article addresses trends in adolescent tobacco use in the United States, stages of progression in cigarette smoking, and nicotine dependence in youth. It describes how tobacco use is learned from an adolescent's social environment and influenced by psychological and genetic factors. It presents the interventions used to reduce tobacco use and highlights the elements of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, which produce changes in adolescent tobacco use prevalence.Chapter 4. Nicotine Addiction: Past and Present
AbstractNiaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Abstract~Effects of nicotine withdrawal on verbal working memory and associated brain response
AbstractSweet, L. H., Mulligan, R. C., Finnerty, C. E., Jerskey, B. A., David, S. P., Cohen, R. A., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Journal title
Psychiatry Research - NeuroimagingVolume
183Issue
1Page(s)
69-74AbstractPrevious literature has reported effects of nicotine withdrawal on brain function during cognitive tasks such as verbal working memory (VWM). Mechanisms of these withdrawal effects have not been clearly identified. Functional neuroimaging offers an objective method to examine brain mechanisms associated with observable behavior and subjective reports. To investigate these mechanisms, 12 smokers were administered a 2-Back VWM challenge during two functional magnetic resonance imaging sessions. Participants abstained from smoking prior to both sessions; however, they applied a nicotine patch before one session and a placebo patch prior to the other. Among regions that exhibited a significant response to the 2-Back during either session, withdrawal was associated with significantly greater deactivation in left and right temporal poles and left medial frontal gyrus. The magnitude of task-related activation showed a significant inverse relationship to craving in the majority of regions during placebo administration. Also, individual brain responses varied more during placebo, suggesting inefficient neural processing. Results suggest that differences in brain response to a VWM challenge during abstinence may be attributed to increased craving. Further deactivation of regions associated with the default network (medial frontal and anterior temporal clusters) during the placebo condition suggests further suspension of default activity, possibly to compensate for inefficient neural processing.Measuring smoking-related preoccupation and compulsive drive : Evaluation of the obsessive compulsive smoking scale
AbstractHitsman, B., Shen, B. J., Cohen, R. A., Morissette, S. B., Drobes, D. J., Spring, B., Schneider, K., Evans, D. E., Gulliver, S. B., Kamholz, B. W., Price, L. H., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Journal title
PsychopharmacologyVolume
211Issue
4Page(s)
377-387AbstractRationale: Tobacco use for many people is compulsive in nature. Compelling theories of how smoking becomes compulsive exist but are largely based on extrapolation from neuroscience findings. Research on smokers is impeded, in part, by a lack of instruments that specifically measure compulsive smoking. Objective: This study evaluated the measurement structure and validity of the Obsessive Compulsive Smoking Scale (OCSS), a ten-item questionnaire designed to measure compulsive smoking. Methods: Participants were 239 daily smokers (≥1 cigarette/day), including 142 students at a public university in Chicago and 97 veterans treated at the VA Boston Healthcare System. The OCSS and questionnaires measuring current and past smoking, cigarette craving, automatic smoking, and nicotine dependence were administered. Results: Factor analysis with maximum likelihood extraction and oblique rotation revealed two correlated underlying factors, interpreted as "Preoccupation with Smoking" and "Compulsive Drive." The measurement structure was consistent across students and veterans, and confirmed in an independent sample of adults (n∈=∈95). Veterans exhibited higher OCSS scores (full scale and subscales) than students. Across groups, higher OCSS scores were positively correlated with smoking intensity, craving, and nicotine dependence. OCSS full-scale and compulsive drive scores, but not smoking preoccupation scores, were inversely correlated with past month smoking reduction and minutes since last cigarette. Conclusions: The OCSS is a valid and reliable inventory for measuring the degree to which daily smokers are preoccupied with smoking and engage in compulsive tobacco use, and may be useful for advancing understanding of core smoking phenotypes or for tailoring cessation therapies.Menthol and non-menthol smoking : The impact of prices and smoke-free air laws
AbstractTauras, J. A., Levy, D. N., Chaloupka, F. J., Villanti, A., Niaura, R. S., Vallone, D., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Journal title
AddictionVolume
105Issue
SUPPL.1Page(s)
115-123AbstractAims To examine the relationship between menthol and non-menthol prices and smoke-free air laws and the choice between menthol and non-menthol cigarettes among current smokers. Design, setting and participants Data were extracted from the nationally representative (USA) 2003 and 2006/07 Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey. A total of 57383 adult smokers (aged 18+) were examined. Measurements A regression model was used to estimate the probability of being a menthol smoker conditional on being a current smoker who had a distinct preference for either non-menthol or menthol cigarettes. Cigarette prices, smoke-free air laws and socio-economic and demographic characteristics were examined as covariates. Findings The prices of menthol and non-menthol cigarettes were associated with the choice between menthol and non-menthol cigarettes. However, smokers did not find menthol and non-menthol cigarettes to be close substitutes for one another. Non-menthol cigarettes were found to be less of a substitute for menthol cigarettes than vice versa. Young adults and African Americans were less responsive to prices with respect to switching between menthol and non-menthol cigarettes than were older adults and non-African Americans, respectively. Conclusions The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is grappling with the issue of whether or not to ban menthol cigarettes. The findings from this study suggest that smokers do not find menthol and non-menthol cigarettes to be close substitutes. The strong preference for mentholated cigarettes may serve as a lever to reduce smoking prevalence when combined with increased access to effective cessation treatments.Relationships of personality and psychiatric disorders to multiple domains of smoking motives and dependence in middle-aged adults
AbstractKahler, C. W., Leventhal, A. M., Daughters, S. B., Clark, M. A., Colby, S. M., Ramsey, S. E., Boergers, J., Abrams, D. B., Niaura, R. S., & Buka, S. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
12Issue
4Page(s)
381-389AbstractIntroduction: Individual differences in psychopathology and personality may associate with dependence on smoking for specific motivational reasons. However, the associations among psychopathology, personality, and smoking dependence and motives have not been examined simultaneously in studies to date, leaving it unclear whether specific patterns of affective and behavioral functioning are associated with specific aspects of smoking dependence. Methods: The present study examined these associations in 296 current smokers aged 35-43 years. Smoking dependence and motives were assessed with structured interview, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, and the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives. Results: Regardless of the measure of smoking dependence tested, a lifetime history of major depression and high levels of trait stress reaction were consistently related to greater current smoking dependence severity. Substance dependence showed significant associations with some measures of smoking dependence but had relatively few effects when entered in models along with depression history and trait stress reaction. In multivariate models, alcohol dependence and conduct disorder history did not show unique significant associations with smoking dependence nor did trait aggression, alienation, control, or harm avoidance. Discussion: Results indicate little specificity in the associations of particular psychiatric diagnoses or personality traits with specific self-reported facets of smoking dependence. It appears that orga general vulnerability to depression and negative emotions is the most robust indicator of vulnerability to high levels of self-reported smoking dependence, regardless of which dimensions of smoking dependence are analyzed.Sex differences in TTC12/ANKK1 haplotype associations with daily tobacco smoking in Black and White Americans
AbstractDavid, S. P., Mezuk, B., Zandi, P. P., Strong, D., Anthony, J. C., Niaura, R. S., Uhl, G. R., & Eaton, W. W. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
12Issue
3Page(s)
251-262AbstractIntroduction: The 11q23.1 genomic region has been associated with nicotine dependence in Black and White Americans. Methods: By conducting linkage disequilibrium analyses of 7 informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the tetratricopeptide repeat domain 12 (TTC12)/ankyrin repeat and kinase containing 1 (ANKK1)/dopamine (D2) receptor gene cluster, we identified haplotype block structures in 270 Black and 368 White (n = 638) participants, from the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area cohort study, spanning the TTC12 and ANKK1 genes consisting of three SNPs (rs2303380-rs4938015-rs11604671). Informative haplotypes were examined for sex-specific associations with daily tobacco smoking initiation and cessation using longitudinal data from 1993-1994 and 2004-2005 interviews. Results: There was a Haplotype × Sex interaction such that Black men possessing the GTG haplotype who were smokers in 1993-2004 were more likely to have stopped smoking by 2004-2005 (55.6% GTG vs. 22.0% other haplotypes), while Black women were less likely to have quit smoking if they possessed the GTG (20.8%) versus other haplotypes (24.0%; p = .028). In Whites, the GTG haplotype (vs. other haplotypes) was associated with lifetime history of daily smoking (smoking initiation; odds ratio = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.1-2.4; p = .013). Moreover, there was a Haplotype × Sex interaction such that there was higher prevalence of smoking initiation with GTG (77.6%) versus other haplotypes (57.0%; p = .043). Discussion: In 2 different ethnic American populations, we observed man-woman variation in the influence of the rs2303380-rs4938015-rs11604671 GTG haplotype on smoking initiation and cessation. These results should be replicated in larger cohorts to establish the relationship among the rs2303380-rs4938015-rs11604671 haplotype block, sex, and smoking behavior.A prospective examination of distress tolerance and early smoking lapse in adult self-quitters
AbstractBrown, R. A., Lejuez, C. W., Strong, D. R., Kahler, C. W., Zvolensky, M. J., Carpenter, L. L., Niaura, R. S., & Price, L. H. (n.d.).Publication year
2009Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
11Issue
5Page(s)
493-502AbstractIntroduction: A significant percentage of smokers attempting cessation lapse to smoking within a matter of days, and current models of relapse devote insufficient attention to such early smoking lapse. Studies attempting to relate severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms to short-term smoking cessation outcomes have yielded equivocal results. How one reacts to the discomfort of nicotine withdrawal and quitting smoking (i.e., distress tolerance) may be a more promising avenue of investigation with important treatment implications. Methods: The present investigation examined distress tolerance and early smoking lapse using a prospective design. Participants were 81 adult daily smokers recruited through newspaper advertisements targeted at smokers planning to quit smoking without assistance (i.e., no pharmacotherapy or psychosocial treatment; 42 males and 39 females; mean age = 42.6 years, SD = 12.20). Results: As hypothesized, both greater breath-holding duration and carbon dioxide-enriched air persistence were associated with a significantly lower risk of smoking lapse following an unaided quit attempt. These effects were above and beyond the risk associated with levels of nicotine dependence, education, and history of major depressive disorder, suggesting that distress tolerance and task persistence may operate independently of risk factors such as nicotine dependence and depressive history. In contrast to expectation, persistence on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (a psychological challenge task) was not a significant predictor of earlier smoking lapse. Discussion: These results are discussed in relation to refining theoretical models of the role of distress tolerance in early smoking lapse and the utility of such models in the development of specialized treatment approaches for smoking cessation.Adolescent tobacco use and substance abuse treatment outcomes
Abstractde Dios, M. A., Vaughan, E. L., Stanton, C. A., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2009Journal title
Journal of Substance Abuse TreatmentVolume
37Issue
1Page(s)
17-24AbstractThis study investigated the relationship between cigarette-smoking status and 12-month alcohol and marijuana treatment outcomes in a sample of 1,779 adolescents from the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes Study for Adolescents. Participants were classified into four groups based on change in cigarette-smoking status from intake to the 12-month follow-up: persistent smokers, nonsmokers, quitters, and smoking initiators. Logistic regression was used to predict likelihood of relapse to alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs after controlling for intake levels and demographic/treatment characteristics. Results found persistent smokers and smoking initiators to have significantly greater odds of alcohol and marijuana relapse compared with quitters. Furthermore, persistent smokers and smoking initiators were also found to have distinctively shorter periods to marijuana relapse at follow-up. Implications for the implementation of tobacco cessation treatment in the context of substance abuse treatment for adolescents are discussed.HIV & smoking in India
AbstractRamesh Kumar, S., Swaminathan, S., Flanigan, T., Mayer, K. H., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2009Journal title
Indian Journal of Medical ResearchVolume
130Issue
1Page(s)
15-22AbstractThere are approximately 2.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in India - the young being particularly vulnerable. The prevalence of smoking has increased in India especially among rural, lower socio-economic and illiterate men. Studies have shown that HIV-infected smokers may be at additional risk for several infectious and non-infectious complications, including malignancies and cardiovascular events. Smoking alters immunological mechanisms and suppresses host defenses in the alveolar environment. HIV-infected smokers have also been found to have a poorer response to antiretroviral therapy and a higher risk of death. HIV-infected individuals who smoke could be at a greater risk for developing TB and subsequently suffer higher morbidity and mortality than those who do not smoke. Currently available smoking cessation interventions like physician's advice, nicotine replacement therapy and pharmacological agents like bupropion and varenicline have had varying degrees of success. Smoking cessation intervention in the HIV-infected population might be more complex because of associated psychosocial problems like drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, etc. More research including clinical trials testing the efficacy of smoking cessation interventions in HIV-infected persons is required in India. In addition to public health measures like banning smoking in public places and raising tobacco tax, comprehensive guidelines for health workers can help address this problem. Counselling on smoking cessation should be one of the main components of primary care, especially in the management of HIV-infected persons. This review highlights the importance of smoking cessation among HIV-infected persons in India.